The recurrent fuel shortage year in, year out has reached a point that it is exasperating and a permanent solution should be sought by the various stakeholders.

Fuel shortage is not a new phenomenon in Kenya, and another episode has just ended after a week long of scarcity .There is now ample supply of oil all over the country.

The high cost of living has already caused enough stress to the mwananchi and when coupled with shortage of the black gold which is also expensive, it becomes too much for the average consumer to handle.

The country’s poor planning and the ubiquitous corruption in the energy sector has a major role to play in this.

The country’s policies and strategic plans tend to be short term and cannot be viable in the long run, as it concentrates only the immediate demands leaving out future demands thereafter leading to shortage.

The petroleum industry requires a complete audit to find out where the problem is.

The respective stakeholders need to come together to discuss the findings, recommendation and implement the solutions so as to create a conducive environment consumers.

Millions of money is lost when there is a slight delay in the manufacturing industries because of the lack of fuel and not to mention the transport sector.

I have two recommendations: first, the Kipevu Storage facility in Mombasa should be expanded to have room for more oil. Could we be affected by the current high oil prices if we could have bought oil say for the next two years? The additional space would have stored the excess thus the prices would have been normal since we would have a buffer. Secondly, the planning should focus on the current demand and the future demands too. The time has come for us to find a long term solution lest we continue to suffer year in, year out.